Strengthening Public Warning Systems

In a time where the frequency and scope of disasters is ever increasing, enhancing the access of citizens and communities to public warning systems has never been more urgent.

In light of this, the European Commission will launch the Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), which aims to alert people in the event of threatening hazards with the use of a constellation of medium earth orbit satellites. In case of emergency, national civil protection authorities can use Galileo to broadcast an alert message within the targeted affected area through a satellite channel. This technology creates new possibilities for Public Warning Systems, enhancing the service provided to the end-users.

On November 15th and 16th 2023, 8 organisations met in Toulouse, France, to launch the AWARE project, which is co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme (Grant agreement No. 101082555). The project is expected to run until 2025.

The AWARE module

The AWARE project will develop a solution enabling the reception and processing of EWSS messages. This solution – the AWARE module – will be integrated in fixed devices, such as display panels, speakers, long-range acoustic devices (LRADs), within the architecture of buildings, and other connected devices which can alert citizens via audio, video, and text alert messages even when telecommunications networks are disrupted or down.

The AWARE module will ensure that in case of a looming threat, citizens receive a timely and accurate warning, minimizing their exposure to danger. The module can be incorporated on a wide range of fixed devices, making sure that the warning reaches everyone in the affected area, whether they are indoors or outdoors.

AWARE is one of the first projects to go beyond smartphone-based alerting capabilities, aiming to integrate Galileo EWSS messages into other devices that are widely accessible and frequently used in everyday life. In doing so, the AWARE project addresses Pillar 3 of the United Nations Early Warnings For All initiative “Warning dissemination and communication” and will contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, AWARE aims to prepare the adoption of EWSS by European Civil Protection Authorities, by supporting the introduction and deployment of the service.

Objectives:

• Refine the AWARE module to ensure maximum operational capacity, guaranteeing the timely warning of citizens.
• Optimize the use of fixed devices in urban infrastructure, enabling them to display public warning alerts outdoors and indoors.
• Increase public safety by enhancing the reach of public warning messages, even when telecommunication networks are down.
• Facilitate the adoption of Galileo EWSS by European Civil Protection Authorities to improve public warning systems in Europe.

About the Consortium

The EU-funded project, led by Telespazio France, brings together eight partners from four countries with the necessary knowledge, expertise, and technical capacity to extend the capabilities of Galileo EWSS. Telespazio and EENA have experience on the design and deployment of public safety services, FDC is a secure GNSS solutions provider, and CNES (the French space agency) is the future operator of the Galileo EWSS service centre in Toulouse.

JCDecaux and Genasys- Public Warning Systems (PWS) equipment providers and solution integrators- will perform end-to-end demonstrations which will involve customers such as Slovenian Civil Protection. Finally, the bridge between Galileo EWSS and Copernicus EMS will be showcased by the University of Strasbourg.